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Science · Life Science
Ecosystem Interactions
Nature is full of drama! Living things might help each other, compete for resources, or harm one another — and these interactions decide who survives.
🌿What Makes an Ecosystem?
🦋BIOTIC — Living
All the living parts — every plant, animal, fungus, and microbe.
🌳 plants🦌 animals🍄 fungi🦠 microbes
💧ABIOTIC — Nonliving
All the nonliving parts that living things need to survive.
☀️ sunlight💧 water🪨 rocks🌡️ temperature
🤝Symbiosis — Living Close Together
💖MUTUALISM
Both species benefit — a true team!
🐠 Clownfish & sea anemone protect each other.
✅ Win & ✅ Win
🤷COMMENSALISM
One benefits, the other is unaffected.
🐦 Bird nests in a tree — tree doesn't care.
✅ Win & 😐 Meh
😈PARASITISM
One benefits, the other is harmed.
🪰 Flea bites a dog — itchy for the dog!
✅ Win & ❌ Lose
⚔️Eat or Be Eaten · Share or Compete
🦊Predator & Prey
A predator hunts and eats a prey animal. This keeps populations in balance.
🥕Competition
Competition is the struggle for the same limited resource — food, water, or space.
🔑Key Terms
🤝Symbiosis A close relationship between two different species.
💖Mutualism Symbiosis where BOTH species benefit (win–win).
🤷Commensalism One species benefits and the other is unaffected (win–meh).
😈Parasitism One species benefits and the other is harmed (win–lose).
⚔️Competition A struggle between organisms for the same limited resource.
🦊Predator & Prey A predator hunts and eats prey, the animal it catches.
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Remember: every living thing has interactions — some help, some compete, some harm — and together they decide who survives in the community!